THE U.S. 29TH INFANTRY DIVISION OCTOBER 1944 - FEBRUARY 1945 BY JONATHAN BABER AND MIKE HAUGHT UPDATED ON 12 MARCH 2015 1 The US 29th Infantry Division’s brave actions on D-Day, 6 June 1944, are well known. This group of country boys, mostly from rural Virginia and Maryland, spearheaded the greatest amphibious operation ever attempted. Their story is compelling. They were truly a group of Citizen Soldiers, drawn from the National Guard to supplement the small professional US Army. They led the assault on the beaches of Normandy, pushed inland through the tough battles of St. Lô, and fought into Brittany where the division helped capture the port city of Brest. Moving east, the division prepared for the assault into Germany itself... In September 1944, the 29th was shipped east to help with operations. Building on actions in St. Lô and Brest, the the drive toward Germany. By this time, the Allies were soldiers found that fighting from house to house was very re-grouping for what was believed to be the final push for dangerous on the attack, and prone to being surrounded Germany itself. Initially the 29th would be placed in a de- on the defence. Communications and artillery was key and fensive position to support other units, but it would not be every attempt was made to provide equipment and plans for long before they would take part in the final push into the calling in mortar fire and other assets for support. During German heartland. this period, the 29th cemented its reputation as tough- minded assault troops. THE SIEGFRIED LINE ROER OPERATIONS The Battle of Aachen marked the first major battle within Germany itself. The enemy resisted fiercely and the battle In the beginning of November, the division held positions would rage all through October. The 29th provided crucial northeast of Aachen and prepared for switching to the of- flank protection for the US forces involved by engaging the fensive. With the 2nd Armored Division on the left 183rd Volksgrenadier Division and keeping it from reinforc- On 16 November, the division switched to the offensive and ing the embattled German forces at Aachen. attacked towards Jülich. With clear and pleasant weather, The division also put pressure on the German Siegfried Line, the 115th and 116th Infantry Regiments attacked toward a string of fortifications along the frontier of Germany. The Setterich. Bitter resistance was encountered, but the battle- ultimate goal of the Allies was to sever this defensive system hardened division moved forward relentlessly. The 747th Tank of tank traps and bunkers, and open the path to the heart of Battalion continued to support the infantry throughout the Germany. attack, providing crucial heavy fire support against tanks and fortified positions along the way. Attacks continued until On 2 October, 1st and 3rd Battalions of the 115th Infantry the division claimed the town of Aldenhoven, with the next Regiment attacked Hatterath and Kreuzrath, achieving their target being the fortress city of Jülich. objectives with the help of the 747th Tank Battalion. Close co-ordination was required to effectively attack the dogged Earlier in the battle, captured documents revealed the German resistance. German defence plan of Jülich. They intended to hold three small villages to the northwest, west and southwest of the By early October, the Birgden-Kreuzrath area was finally city. These villages were on the on the left bank of the Roer, cleared. At this point, the 115th settled down to a period of with most of Jülich on the right bank. The 29th attacked these active patrols and reconnaissance for future operations. villages, Koslar, Bourheim, and Kirchberg, in order to break Throughout the month, the 29th learned more valuable the German defence. Continued coordination with artillery, lessons in urban warfare that would serve them well in future tanks, tank destroyers, infantry, and air support was key 2 to the battle, as the enemy resisted violently fighting from By building temporary bridges and using assault boats house-to-house. By the end of 28 November, the division and LVT-4 Amtrac armoured amphibious transports, the was in possession all three towns and paused to regroup for 115th assaulted across the river on the night of 23 February its assault across the Roer. to the south of Jülich. A huge artillery bombardment was conducted to prepare the area for the attack and engineers The 116th and 175th infantry regiments started off December started bridge construction. The Germans resisted fiercely in contact with the last remaining German elements on the and the bridge-building was greatly curtailed by incoming west bank of the Roer. Defeating this enemy force was of fire. However, the 175th pushed across the Roer on the prime importance, as it had to be dislodged before the final foot bridges the engineers had managed to construct. The assault to capture Jülich. The attack was complicated by division established and then widened the bridgehead and open areas and a commanding view of the area from enemy finally entered the ruined city of Jülich. positions on the east bank. On 24 February, E Company, 116th Infantry Regiment was 1st Battalion, 116th, led the attack. Following the first day’s joined by the 739th Tank Battalion and its four M4 Sherman relatively easy advance, progress was slowed by minefields Crocodile flame tanks to attack Jülich’s stongpoint called and concentrated artillery fire. After regrouping, the the Citadel, which had been constructed and re-built con- regiment renewed the assault with heavy artillery and air tinuously since Roman times. It took very little time for the support. This attack gained some ground, but eventually the flame-throwing tanks to get the Germans to withdraw, and 115th was called up from reserve to relieve the worn-down Jülich was secured. 116th. After very tough fighting, the west bank of the Roer was completely secured. After taking Jülich, the division moved northeast, encounter- ing ever weakening resistance. With the failure of Operation HOLDING THE FLANK Wacht am Rhein, German resistance crumbled in front of the th On 20 December, the 29th switched to defence, due to the 29 . The push for final victory was on. recent outbreak of the German Ardennes Offensive, code- FINAL AssAulT INTO GERMANY named Wacht am Rhein. The 29th guarded the flank during the Battle of the Bulge. They established a defensive position The 29th marched forward toward Munchen-Gladbach on in-depth, incorporating all of the valuable lessons learned 1 March 1945. The advance took place at break-neck speed following D-Day. They knew what did and what did not and only slowed upon entering the city itself. Once again, work when facing a prepared enemy. Now, those bitterly the 29th used its expertise in city-fighting to clear the area. learned lessons – interlocking fields of fire, front line and By the end of the day, they had captured the largest German fall-back positions, establishment of rally-points, communi- city yet by Allied forces. cations design, and more – would be put into practice for the For the rest of March, the 29th entered a period of rest, Americans’ advantage. Positions were set, trenches were dug, training and re-fit. The division stressed lessons learned, and wire laid by the Signal Corps - even the tanks and tank signal operations, discipline, live-fire exercises, physical destroyers were provided with dug-in in defensive positions, fitness, urban fighting, cross-country movement, and more. should an attack occur. In April, the 29th found itself assigned to the XVI (16th) Corps This defensive posture was maintained throughout January. reserve, with only the 116th Infantry Regiment assigned to Patrols and raids were carried out across the river in an effort the front in order to help contain the Ruhr Pocket. The re- to maintain contact with the enemy and keep him on his mainder of the division set about administering the consid- toes. These operations were greatly hindered by the unbeliev- erable area captured by the Allies. This meant solving traffic ably cold, damp, and snowy weather and were generally not problems, dealing with the large number of refugees, food successful. and sanitation, prisoners of war, and other administrative th BATTLE FOR JÜLICH tasks. The war was mostly over for the 29 Infantry Division and everyone else. February saw the division shifting from a defensive mindset The 29th fought in some of the toughest battles in the to an offensive one. The 29th intended to cross the Roer and European Theatre and provided key support throughout late finally take Jülich. For this operation, the division would 1944 and 1945. Without the efforts of these Citizen Soldiers, pair up with the 30th Infantry Division, 821st Tank Destroyer the war would have surely extracted an even heavier toll. Battalion (SP), and the 747th Tank Battalion. The Roer was driven to flood stage by both unusually wet weather and the Germans releasing water upstream from dams they controlled. 3 RIFLE COMPANY 29TH INFANTRY DIVISION - GERMANY 1945 (INFANTRY COMPANY) HEADQUARTERS You must field one platoon from each box shaded black and may field one platoon from each box shaded grey. 5 Rifle Company HQ HEADQUARTERS SUPPORT PLATOONS INFANTRY MACHINE-GUNS ARMOUR ARTILLERY 6 5 Machine-gun Platoon 16 Rifle Platoon 10 Field Artillery Battery Tank Platoon COMBAT PLATOONS PLATOONS COMBAT MACHINE-GUNS 11 WEAPONS PLATOONS PLATOONS WEAPONS INFANTRY Flail Tank Platoon ARTILLERY 6 ARMOUR Machine-gun Platoon 16 5 Field Artillery Battery Rifle Platoon